Electric-sign controller



Nov. 29 1927.

H. HIRSCH ELECTRIC SIGN CONTROLLER Filed Sept. 24, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet Nov. 29, 192 7.

H. HIRSCH ELECTRIC SIGN CONTROLLER Filed Sept.24, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 OOO'OOOO Dora 0000000 0000000 omooaeo ooooeuo oooaoco 0000000 000000 00 0000 O0 0000 0 o oo 0 000000 HHv- 0oooooo f sition.

Patented ,Nov. 29, 1927.

UNITED STATES v 1,651,275 PATENT OFFICE.

m! m or MOI, lwn'mnann.

WHO-SIGN CONTROLLED.

Application fled laptelbar M, 1.88, lerlal Io. 4,015, and in Germany ldptolbar .7, ma.

This invention relates to an improved method of usi of and apparatus for advertising at nig t by electric incandescent lamps. With my new system it is possible to produce all kind of letters, series or se-- uence of words, sentences, designs or the hire by the simplest expediences, 'ving at the same time the impression as if t e words or the like were written on the display board by an invisible hand, while the next advertisement develops itself out of the first one, which vanishes without any interval of darkness.

In order that my invention may be clearly understood, I have illustrated the same in the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a part of the advertising or display board with the contact devices and the three-way switch.

Fig. 2 shows an enlarged fragmentary view of'a part of a contact device in sectional elevation.

Fig. 3 illustrates diagrammatically the connections between the incandescent electric lamps of the advertising board and the lower part of a contact device.

Figs. 4 and 5 show parts of a contactdevice bearing the perforated sheet, with the non-perforated cover moved in another pc- In the drawings :Fig. 1 indicates an advertising or display board, provided with a large number of incandescent electric lamps placed in parallel rows, the lamps being at ual distances from each other, in horizontal and vertical direction. By switching on definite groups of lamps any letter, word, sentence, design or the like may be produced on the display board because every moandescent lamp is connected wlth the contact devices by its own wire.

The proper contact system includes two I contact devices 2 and 3 and a three way switch 4, all of them connected to the same le. To switch-on the lamps two of the described contact devices 2 and 3 are provided,

' each lamp on the display board 1 bein connected parallel with either contact evice 2 or 8.

The contact devices 2 and 3 are identical, they are connected by wires 9 and 10 to the three wa switch 4; connected to one of the mains. he electric incandescent lamps on the advertising board are connected with the other main by the feed wire 12.

I The metaidplate of the contact device 2 1S connect by wire 9 to the contact 5 of the three way switch 4, and the metal plate 15 of the contact device 3 is connected by wire 10 to the contact 5 of said three way switch 4. By shifting a lever 6 either of the plates 15 of the contact devices 2 and 3 may be connected with the supply of electric energy.

Each of the contact devices (Fig. 2) comprises a metal plate 15, having as man pins 29 slidabl mounted in the same an proyided wit curled springs, as the advertismg board 1 hasincandescent electric lamps. This metal plate 15 is connected to the conductor 9, and is pivoted at be fitted with a handle. board 16 which consists of suitable insulating material, and which is placed right beneath the same, metallic contacts 17 are fixed, one for each pin 20. Each of these contacts 17 is connected to its correspond ing electric lamp on the display board 1, while all of the latter receive their current by the main feed wire 12. (Figs. 1 and 3.)

Fig. 2 shows the perforated sheet 18 and the non-perforated cover 19. The first one consists of a thin plate of insulating material, which is perforated previously with such a number of holes as electric lamps should appear lighted on the advertising board 1. The cover 19 consists merely of a-thin sheet of any resistant material of the same dimension as sheet 18 without any perforatlons. I v

If for instance both of the sheets 18 and 19 were removed, and .the metallic plate 15 closed, all the lampson the display-board are lighted as soon as the circuit is closed on the three way switch 4. If however a perforated sheet 18 is laced between a metal cover 15 and a base ard 16 (either on 2 or on 3), all those of the pins 20 make contact with the corresponding metallic contacts 17, which pass through the perforations of the sheet 18, and thus the corresponding lamps on the advertisingv board 1 are li hted up.

If the cover 19 is placed between the ins 20 and the perforated sheet 18 (as i ustratedin Fig. 2) no pin can pass through the erforation of the sheet 18, but as soon as e cover 19 is drawn to the right (Fi 4 and 5) the pins 20 pass one by one t e 23 and may In the baseperforations of the sheet 18 and make conlam s on the displayboard 1, are lighted up while the first display disappears the following display appears.

If for instance the word The is to appear on the advertising board 1 the sheet 18 is previously provided with perforations forming the word The as shown in Figs. 1, 4 and 5. The sheet 18 so perforated is now inserted in the contact device 2 in such a manner, that the perforations are above the contact pieces 17 Now by pressing down the metallic plate 15, the pins 20 come in contact with the corresponding contact pieces 17 and therefore the lamps, which form the word The only are lighted up on the display board 1. If new the word Best is to appear on the display board another sheet 18 with perforations corresponding to the word Best is inserted now in the contact device 3, while the lever 6 is shifted slowly over the osition 7 intoppsition' 8 (in dotted lines in l ig. 1). By t 's it will be attained that both contact devices 2 and 3 are supplied with current one after the other without interruption, so that both of the lighted words The and Best appear mingled) merged on the dis lay board 1. nly after the lever 6 of t e three way switch 4 has been put slowly in its final position 8, the word Best becomes visible on the display board 1 without any previous interval of darkness; For the purpose of obtaining in the same time the appearing of the the first word The vanishes, transforming itself into the second word Best without any previous interval oi -darkness, and so on.

It will be understood, that almost any form of contact device for the pur ose described can be used without avoi ing the principle of my invention.

What I claim is:

An electric sign circuit closer comprising a pair of members, one having s ring-projected contact pins, and the other aving contact pieces for engagement by said pins, and a sheet of insulating material arranged between said members and having openings which register with certain of said contact pins and contact pieces, and a second sheet of insulating material slidable on the firstnamed sheet.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

HENRY TIIRSCH. 

